7 Prison? (1/2)

After the three of them finished eating their lunches, Liliana and Kalin, now with the addition of Mei, left the eatery before making their way toward the center of town.

As Mei and Lili spent the time catching up with each other, Kal followed behind them. Though he never drifted too far from them, he couldn't help but get distracted as they walked through the streets. Every twist and turn of the road had a new sights and experiences. Though a small town, the somewhat windy roads made it relatively easy for lose one's sense of direction.

The scene of the two cute and one beautiful 'girls' caused many people to look their way. Though most people were entranced by the scene, an occasional brave vendor would call out to them, only to be politely refused. These acts caused the surroundings to awaken from their momentary lapse, before continuing with their day.

After similar scenes happened several times, the three of them arrived in front of a large brick building. Seeing the heavy metal gate, high walls, armored guards, as well as the barred windows, Kal looked at the two girls beside him and said, ”I know what this place is!”

Looking doubtful, Lili smirked, ”Oh, and what would that be?”

Just as one of the guards at the entrance took a drink from a canteen, Kal confidently proclaimed, ”It's a prison!” Hearing this, the guard almost spit the contents of his drink out.

Mei and Lili looked at each other before the two of them burst out laughing. Mei commented, ”Well, he's not wrong.”

Lili, still laughing, ”This is the Merchant's Guild.”

Kal's cheeks turned a couple shades pinker before he tried to change the subject. ”Why are we at the Merchant's guild?”

Lili, not missing his intent to switch topics, decided to go along with his question, ”We need to sell the materials and potions we brought from home.”

Kal tilted his head, ”Why don't we sell them at the Adventurer's guild?

Lili responded, ”The Adventurer's guild is just a place to give and receive requests. They act as a brokerage agency for adventurers and their clients. After you get a 'quest' from the guild, you fulfill it and receive money after fulfilling the conditions. This leaves the adventurer to do whatever they want with any remaining materials.”

Mei expounded, ”That's right. Usually the requester only wants the most valuable part of the monsters, the magic cores. As they are small, valuable, and easily transportable, they are well sought-after items for merchants, craftsmen, and mages. The requester doesn't usually want to pay the cost for materials they don't want, so adventurers end up with a lot of less valuable materials.”

Lili cut in, ”Exactly! That's why the merchant's guild is important for adventurers. Although they buy items a little below market price, they will buy all the materials you bring, no matter their value. Some adventurers try to sell their items themselves, using stalls or other ways, but then they waste time they could be fulfilling requests to sell things for a couple pints more. After they have to pay a peddler tax to the Merchant's Guild.”

Mei sighed, ”Adventurers both hate and love the Merchant's guild. While it does make life so much more convenient, sometimes it is painful to see how little money they give you in return for items you risk your life for.”

Kal nodded, trying to comprehend the large amount f information that was just given to him. After contemplating for a few moments, he turned to Mei with stars in his eyes. ”Were you an adventurer before?

Mei couldn't help but feel blinded by the pure light in his innocent eyes. She smiled, while patting him on the head, ”Yep, back in the day, I was a member of the party your sister was the captain of.” With a reminiscent look on her face, she continued saying, ”I can tell you some stories about your sister. She was quite a handful back then.”

Lili retorted to the comment, as a murderous aura radiated from her. ”You better remember your place, or I'll put you in it.”

Mei laughed aloud at her threat as she brushed it off, ”I guess I'll have to wait until Lilli is busy with something else before telling you some stories.”

Kal couldn't help but remember the times he had been disciplined by Lili, as he gulped nervously. He couldn't help but look at Mei with a look of reverence due to her fearlessness in the face of the face of evil, Lili.